HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.12.25 Park Board MinutesPARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES
FOSTER COMMUNITY CENTER
Wednesday November 12th, 2025
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Dombrowski, Kimberly Whitfield, Nate Scramlin,
Isaac Francisco, Joan Lenhard, Tirstan Walters, Rayvnne Gilmore,
Christopher Greene- Szmadzinski
CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 P.M. Foster Community Center
I. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
Swapped C and D Greene-Szmadzinski moved to accept the agenda as amended,
Scramlin Supported, passed unanimously.
II. BOARD MEETING MINUTES
A. October 8th, 2025 Scramlin moved to accept the October 8th minutes, Walters
Seconded, passed unanimously.
III. NEW BUSINESS
New Park Board Member - Christopher Greene- Szmadzinski
A. New Park Board Member - Christopher Greene- Szmadzinski lives near Scott Woods park and
loves the outdoors and is excited to provide recreational opportunities.
B. Kircher Park Memorial Request- Kaitlin Parker made a request to add a memorial for her father
Thomas Parker at the Kircher Municipal Baseball Field. Walters moved and Scramlin seconded
to support the installation of the memorial pending final design and inscription review. Passed
unanimously.
C. Ranney Park Additional Lighting — Diego Morales from the Raney Park Community Coalition.
Diego advocated to have additional lighting added to Ranney Park in and around the skate park to
increase recreational activities. He presented a petition with 42 signatures to support the request for
lighting being added to this park.
D. Fenner Preschool Playground and Hunter Park Playground — This playground will be open to
the public and will be designed as a natural playground intended for children ages 2-5. Fenner is
currently gathering public input. The department received a grant from Game Time for playground
equipment at Hunter Park.
E. B WL Wentworth Park Steam Conversion- A Steam Conversion Building has been proposed by
B WL to be built and installed at Wentworth for approximately 10 years. The Parks Board asked the
Director to invite a representative from the B WL to speak with the board.
F. Scott Woods — Tubing Hill — Hawk Island has an easement request to use a portion of Scott
Woods for the bottom portion of the Tubing Hill that is up for renewal. A motion was made to
renew the easement. Lenhard Moved, Whitfield seconded, passed unanimously.
G. Moores Courts Survey — A survey was sent out to the community to see what types of courts
would be popular to resurface. The option of dividing the use of the courts between tennis and
pickleball court.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. 5 — Year Plan — The 5 Year Plan will be submitted for final public comment and vote by
City Council at their December 15th Meeting.
V. UPDATES
1. Park Foundation — The Parks Foundation is looking for additional Board Members and a
part time Director.
2. Jones Lake Property — Passed the Planning Commission and is being presented to City
Council.
3. Waverly Property - Passed the Planning Commission and is being presented to City
Council.
4. Frances Park Shoreline Project — The grant funding was accepted by City Council.
5. Bubble Barrier — A $300K grant was accepted from Meijer for the engineering and design
of the Bubble Barrier.
6. Consumers Easement — This easement along the South Side of Mount Hope for a High
Pressure Gas Line will be presented to City Council on November 17`x' 2025.
7. Reutter Park Fountain— An engineering report will be ordered and presented to the Parks
Board when it is completed.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
1. 13t" Annual Race to Restore — 5k at Mt. Hope Cemetery — October 18"' @ loam
2.. Courtesy Office Xmas Open House 6"' Year of Service December 22"d @ 11:00am
VII. INFORMATION
VIII. REMARKS BY BOARD MEMBERS
Rayvnne Gilmore wanted to confirm that the updates to the lighting goals in the 5 year plan. She also
wanted to have the Department look into opportunities to provide an area to play cricket.
Tirstan Walters spoke with the West Side Neighborhood Association about the parcel at 609 — 609 N
Verlinden — Adjacent to Osborn Park and the Neighborhood Association was receptive to the Department
seeking out a possible purchase to expand Osborn Park.
IX. STATEMENTS OF CITIZENS
All meetings of the Park Board shall be open to the public. Those in attendance shall have the opportunity to speak on
any issue related to parks and recreation services not otherwise on the agenda at the end of the meeting and may speak on
any agenda issue during the meeting after park board members have had an opportunity to discuss the issue or prior to
the board voting on the issue. The President may impose a time limit on public comments.
Dinah George who is the Hunter Park Garden Assistant wanted to speak about the usage of Hunter
Park. She has received feedback from users of Hunter Park asking for access to water and a working
water fountain. She has also received requests for easy access to the restrooms. She also wanted to
let us know that she and two other farming experts are forming a black farming collective called the
Three Sisters Farm Collective.
Meeting closed at 8:34